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Transpetro Expands Ship-To-Ship Operations at the Port of Fortaleza, Consolidating Ceará as a Strategic Hub for Petrobras!
The state of Ceará has gained prominence in Petrobras’ supply logistics. Transpetro, a subsidiary of the state-owned company, has significantly expanded its fuel transshipment operations between ships, known as ship to ship, at the Port of Fortaleza.
In 2024, there were 14 such operations, a significant increase compared to 2023, when only two transfers were carried out.
The growth of activities in Ceará is directly linked to the expansion of oil exploration in the Northeast region.
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“With the increase in exploratory campaigns, it was necessary to reinforce maritime diesel supply. Ceará has become a strategic point in this process”, explained Robervalter Capirunga, Business Development Manager at Transpetro.
Discoveries Boost Operations at the Port of Fortaleza
One of the exploratory campaigns that have driven this growth is being carried out in the Potiguar Basin, located between Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte.
In April 2024, Petrobras announced the discovery of an oil accumulation at the exploratory well Anhangá, which could represent a future increase in production and supply logistics.
At the Port of Fortaleza, located in the Mucuripe neighborhood, ships supplied by the ship to ship system benefit from optimized logistics flow and a reduction of up to 30% in transportation costs.
In addition to the capital of Ceará, this operation is carried out in 12 other locations across Brazil, playing a key role in fuel distribution, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Transpetro and Ship-to-Ship Operations: A Strategic Solution
The ship to ship operation has established itself as an efficient alternative for fuel transfer, avoiding congestion at terminals and ports.
The technique can be conducted with one of the ships anchored or in motion, but requires authorization from the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) and the Brazilian Navy.
During the historic drought of the Amazon River, for example, this method proved essential for ensuring fuel supply.
“With river levels extremely low, larger ships could not reach the metropolitan area. Thus, we used smaller vessels to transfer the product and optimize the supply”, highlighted Capirunga.
In Ceará, Transpetro expects a continuous increase in these operations at the Port of Fortaleza and is studying the possibility of expanding its activities to the Port of Pecém.
With the growing demand for fuels and the expansion of Petrobras’ exploration activities in the region, the state is set to establish itself as a strategic hub in the country’s maritime logistics.
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